Title: Explain the concept and principles of medical asepsis, to include sources of contamination.
Course: Surgical Technologist I (14056-I) > Section: Understanding Principles of Asepsis

Explanation should include

- a description of medical asepsis (i.e., a microorganism-controlled environment)
- differentiation among the concepts of sterile, clean, and contaminated
- sources of contamination (e.g., dust, moisture, body fluid, fecal material, jewelry, shoes, food, hair, nails, clothes, hands)
- channels of contamination (e.g., operating room team, patients, equipment, furniture, air).

Process/Skill Questions:

- Why must operating room team members always keep their arms above their waist and their hands above their elbows?
- Why are operating room team members often reminded that, “Anything behind you is considered nonsterile”?
- How do operating room team members minimize the risk of contamination from the patient?